LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I — A project will get underway this week to provide a bridge for vehicles and pedestrians to cross over Keahua Stream at the end of Kuamo‘o Road, in Keahua Arboretum in the Lihu‘e-Koloa Forest Reserve.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Kaua‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife selected contractor Mocon Corporation to install a vehicular bridge and new roadway alignment. The bridge will have an adjacent pedestrian path. Also planned is removal of some trees, installation of bridge abutment footings and walls, and installation of a drainage culvert with inlet and outlet.

The contractor will excavate, grade, and pave with asphalt the larger parking lot so vehicles can park there. The contractor intends to utilize the smaller parking lot for their operations and will direct vehicles to use the larger parking lot in the interim.

Work is expected to be complete in early 2017 barring any delays, such as due to weather. Project cost is approximately $2.5 million.

No long road closures are expected since at least one traffic lane will remain open; however, there may be temporary closures.